CN107003056A - Cooling device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a kind of cooling device（100）Including：Fluid reservoir for keeping fluid to be cooled（130）, storage tank（130）With top area（130H）And in top area（130H）The body regions of lower section（130B）, top area（130H）And body regions（130B）Each be all provided with being set to comprising fluid to be cooled；And heat exchange section.The equipment in use is configured to allow for cooling device cooling top area（130H）In fluid, wherein, fluid reservoir（130）It is configured such that storage tank（130）Cross-sectional area from top area（130H）To body regions（130B）Distance at least a portion on according to from top area（130H）To body regions（130B）Distance change it is tapered and reduce.

Description

Cooling device and method

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of refrigeration plant.Especially, but non-exclusively, it is used to store simultaneously the present invention relates to one kind Transport vaccine, perishable foods, packaged beverage etc. and in not reliable power supply cool down such as battery equipment or Control the refrigeration plant of its temperature.Each aspect of the present invention is related to apparatus and method.

Background technology

Most world population there is no the lasting of mains electricity and reliable supply.Undeveloped country is remote The area of residential area, continually by the rationing for the electric power often implemented by means of " load-shedding ", this is deliberately to stop What the failure of electricity or power distribution network was produced.

This area without lasting and/or reliable supply of electric power at moderate temperatures storage vaccine, food and Beverage is difficult, such territorial restrictions the widely using of conventional refrigeration equipment.For example, vaccine needs to be stored in about 2- In the range of narrow temperature between 8 DEG C, their viablity can be damaged or destroyed outside this scope.Similar Problems occur To food, especially the storage of perishable food and such as canned or bottled drink packaged beverage it is related.

In the reaction to this problem, present applicant previously proposed has been a kind of refrigerating plant form, its disclosure In international patent application NO.PCT/GB2010/051129, the device allows to be tieed up after electric power is lost by refrigeration memory space Hold and be up to 30 days within the temperature range of 4-8 DEG C.This prior-art devices includes for vaccine, food, beverage container or appointed The what payload space of his cooled article, the payload space is placed in the lower area of the heat insulation storage tank of water Place.Above storage tank and in flow communication, the headroom of the water filling comprising cooling element or Low Temperature Thermal material is provided To the cold feed of storage tank.

This prior-art devices is in the known features of its maximal density dependent on water at about 4 DEG C.Therefore, by top Cooling element or hot material in space, which are cooled to the water of this temperature, to be tended to sink in the storage tank, is rested on effective around this At the lower area of load space, the payload space is cooled in 4 DEG C by heat transfer or close to 4 DEG C of temperature.

Applicant have perceived that packaging, fortune the need for improving device mentioned above with promotion in some applications Defeated and efficiency.Exactly in this context, present invention has been contemplated.Pass through following description, claims and drawing, sheet Other targets and advantage of invention will become obvious.

The content of the invention

Each aspect of the present invention is thus provided such as apparatus and method claimed in appended claims.

A kind of cooling device is provided in the one aspect of the present invention sought protection, including：

Fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir is used to keep fluid to be cooled, and the storage tank has top area and under top area Each of the body regions of side, top area and body regions are configured to include fluid to be cooled；And

Heat exchange section, heat exchange section in use be configured to the fluid thermal communication in body regions, thus allow The heat transfer between fluid in heat exchange section and body regions,

The equipment in use is configured to allow for the fluid in cooling device cooling top area,

Wherein, fluid reservoir be configured such that the cross-sectional area of storage tank the distance from top area to body regions to Change of few upper basis of a part from top area to the distance of body regions is tapered and reduces.

It is to be understood that the cross-sectional area of storage tank can be limited by the boundary wall of storage tank.Therefore, such as by the border of storage tank The cross-sectional area for the storage tank that wall is limited can be from top area to passing through root at least a portion of the distance of body regions Reduce according to the tapered of the distance change from top area to body regions.

The cross-sectional area of storage tank is according to the spy that the change of the distance from top area to heat exchange section is tapered and reduces Levy and have the advantage that, body regions and the therefore overcooled danger of the fluid in heat exchange section can be reduced.This It is because the amount for the heat that can be drawn in preset time from body regions towards top area is based in part on available The cross-sectional area change of the storage tank transmitted in Heat transmission or fluid.It is to be understood that by providing tapered to storage tank, refrigeration is set The standby cooling on the liquid in body regions can be self-regulated.

It is to be understood that in some cases, fluid in top area can be by relative active （aggressively）Cool down to allow to the height cooling for being freezing or the fluid that substantially freezes fluid it is anterior from Top area spreads towards body regions.If highly the fluid of cooling is anterior direct with heat exchange sections in body regions Thermo-contact, then may occur the supercooling of heat exchange section, i.e. be cooled to too low temperature.This can cause by heat exchange department Divide the material of cooling（Such as, medical vaccine）Damage.By provide be configured such that the cross-sectional area of storage tank according to from Top area is to the change of the distance of heat exchange section and the fluid reservoir that reduces, the anterior diffusion speed of the fluid of height cooling Degree can reduce as the front portion is spread.It is to be understood that in some embodiments that supercooling causes fluid to freeze, due to The reduction of cross-sectional area is so can be with the anterior diffusion of freezing-inhibiting fluid.The anterior diffusion of frozen liquid can be from heat Switching part is suppressed sufficiently long range to cause the supercooling for preventing heat exchange section.

It is to be understood that in use, being born if providing to have in fluid reservoir to positive thermal expansion critical-temperature Fluid（Such as, water）：Fluid shows positive thermal coefficient of expansion more than the temperature and shows negative in the following fluid of the temperature Thermal coefficient of expansion, then the equipment then can be with operable with by the given depth below top area（In body regions It is interior）Fluid reservoir in fluid maintain the temperature of substantial constant, the temperature, which depends, at least partially, on bearing to positive, faces Boundary's temperature.

It is to be understood that the temperature of the fluid in top area is cooled down by cooling device in certain embodiments, and Close to critical-temperature, the density of fluid is maximum at the critical-temperature.This causes fluid becomes buoyancy smaller and sink.Conversely Ground, when the temperature of fluid rises to more than critical-temperature, due to the heat exchange for example with heat exchange section, the density of fluid subtracts It is small, and the fluid of more buoyancy tends to rising.The fluid of the rising of temperature more than critical-temperature therefore can be with Heavy fluid mixing, and finally essentially static balance can be set up in some structures.Be cooled to critical-temperature with Under top area in fluid there is the density smaller than the fluid in critical-temperature, and therefore tend to sink down into Below top area.Therefore, the temperature of the fluid in the body regions below top area can be set in certain embodiments Being set to will not substantially rise to more than critical-temperature or substantially be reduced to below critical-temperature.

Advantageously, critical-temperature is in the range of from -100 DEG C to+50 DEG C, advantageously further from -50 DEG C to 10 DEG C In the range of, further advantageously in the range of from -20 DEG C to about 8 DEG C, advantageously in the range of from -20 DEG C to 5 DEG C, Advantageously further in the range of from -5 DEG C to 5 DEG C, alternatively in the range of from 2 DEG C to 5 DEG C.Other are counted in certain embodiments Value can be useful.

It is to be understood that cold bag is intended to be included in and packs interior cooling agent body, such as, ice bag.The packaging can be with Including plastic material.Cooling agent can include water, water/salt mixture（Such as, water/salting liquid）, water/solvent mixture, gel Or other any suitable cooling agents.As described above, loose form can also be used in（Such as, block, particle, " ice cube ", Broken freezing cooling agent）Or the freezing cooling agent of other any suitable forms.

Some embodiments of the present invention allow to provide cooling device, and as described below, the cooling device has in cold storage part The cooling object or such as water-ice or dry ice of such as cold bag of middle offer（Frozen carbon dioxide）Loose refrigeration material driving.Should Cooling object is driven on the top of fluid reservoir（Top）Fluid cooling in fluid reservoir in region.

Alternatively, fluid reservoir is configured such that the cross-sectional area of storage tank is tapered in a substantial continuous manner and subtracts It is small.

Alternatively, fluid reservoir is configured such that the cross-sectional area of storage tank at least in part multiple substantially discrete Stage（steps）In it is tapered and reduce.

Fluid reservoir can be set such that the cross-sectional area of storage tank substantially only in multiple substantially discrete ranks It is tapered on the part of the length of storage tank and reduce in section.

Alternatively, the cross-sectional area of storage tank in some of storage tank according to from top area to body regions away from From change it is tapered and reduce, the cross-sectional area of the storage tank between appropriate section increases to cause the cross-sectional area again It is secondary to increase and alternately reduced in tapered mode before then being reduced in tapered mode.

Alternatively, the cross-sectional area between a pair of adjacent sections is also increased in tapered mode.The alternatively increase Can be substantially unexpected.

Alternatively, fluid reservoir be configured such that the storage tank from top area towards body regions length at least In a part, the geometric center of the cross-sectional area of storage tank is bent downwardly relative to the orientation in.

It is to be understood that geometric center means the barycenter of fluid reservoir.

Alternatively, the cross-sectional area of storage tank in described at least a portion of reclinate storage tank according to from top region Domain reduces to the change of the distance of body regions.

Alternatively, the equipment is configured to allow for cooling down top by cooling device by the conduction by heat exchange section Fluid in region.

Heat exchange section can include the part for defining the wall of the internal volume of fluid reservoir.Heat exchange section can be with There is provided by substantially upright wall.

Alternatively, the equipment includes cold storage part, and cold storage part is configured to by passing through heat exchange in use Partial conduction and the cooling for causing the fluid in top area.

Alternatively, cold storage part point include being configured to opening and for close the opening enclosure portion every Room, cold storage part is configured to accommodate the cooling agent for being used for cooling down heat exchange section.

Alternatively, it is cold bag or the cooling agent of substantially loose refrigeration material that cold storage part, which is configured to receiving form,.

Alternatively, the equipment includes the power cooling element for being used to cool down the cooling agent in cold storage part.

Power cooling element means requirement energy source to provide the cooling element of cooling（Such as, cooling module）.Energy Source can come from power supply（Such as, battery or external power source）Electric energy, chemical energy（For example, from endothermic chemical reaction）, combustion Material（Such as, gas or liquid fuel）Or other any suitable energy sources.

It is to be understood that cold storage part is not intended to the part filled with liquid, and equipment in certain embodiments Operation need not to be such case.In certain embodiments, cold storage part can be considered dry storage part, but be due to Loose freezing cooling agent（Such as, ice）Condensation or melt it and can be at least partially filled with liquid.

Alternatively in equipment during use, discharger can be provided for allowing appointing in cold storage part Liquid of anticipating is discharged from cold storage part.

Cold storage heat exchange section can include cold storage heat exchange elements, in use the cold storage heat exchange elements quilt It is configured to be arranged to and the cooling object in cold storage part（Such as, cold bag）Essentially directly thermally contact.

In certain embodiments, cold storage heat exchange elements can be configured to and cool down the direct physics of object（Touching）Connect Touch.

Cold storage heat exchange elements can include hardware, and the hardware is by the metal with relatively high thermal conductivity （Such as, copper or aluminium）Formed.The element can be formed by ferrous metal, such as, with intrinsic corrosion resistance and/or anticorrosive painting Layer（Such as, water-repellent paint or other coatings）Stainless steel.

Cold storage heat exchange section can be configured to and limit the cold wall for storing portion boundary, and essentially directly heat connects Touch.The wall can additionally provide the wall of storage tank.The wall can be configured to allow heat from the fluid in top area to pass through Wall is conducted to cold storage heat exchange section.

It is to be understood that essentially directly being thermally contacted including direct physics with cold storage heat exchange elements（Touching）Contact and Via such as weld seam or retaining element（Such as, bolt, rivet or other retaining elements）Fixing device direct contact.One Or multiple intermediary elements（Such as, pad, packing ring or other suitable components）Can be arranged on it is cold storage heat exchange elements with Between the wall of storage tank.

Advantageously, cold storage heat exchange elements can be configured to extend to the lower area of cold storage part to cause Heat exchange elements can be with the cooling thing brought into thermal contact that is placed in the base surface of cold storage part in use.

The size of cold storage part can be designed to accommodate multiple cold bags.

Advantageously, the equipment can include resilience pushing meanss to maintain cooling object and cold storage heat exchange department The essentially directly thermo-contact divided.

This feature this have the advantage that resilience pushing meanss are adapted in use because cooling object warms and draws The Volume Changes of the cooling object risen so that the cooling article initially essentially directly thermally contacted with cold storage heat exchange section Without departing from such contact during warming.For example, being shunk cooling down when article is to warm（Or expansion）Cold bag situation In, when article contraction or expansion is cooled down, the cooling article can also maintain the contact with cold storage heat exchange section.

The pushing meanss can include resilience component and cooling object contact portion, and resilience component is configured such that Contact portion applies force to cooling object to push up cooling object towards the side of cold storage heat exchange section.

Contact portion can form a part for resilience component, for example its free end.This feature is being reduced due to returning Freezing water-ice is formed on flexible member（For example, the freezing of the vapor due to condensation）And block resilience component （seizure）Risk on be favourable.

In the case of multiple cold bags are arranged side by side in cold storage part, resilience pushing meanss can apply force to one Cold bag, the power is passed to the cold bag near cold storage heat exchange section to maintain the Leng Bao and cold storage heat exchange section base Directly thermally contacted in sheet.

Advantageously, contact portion can be movably with so that resilience pushing meanss are operable to be suitable for varying number Cooling article.

In certain embodiments, resilience pushing meanss are formed with relatively high thermal conductivity, and in some replacements In embodiment, resilience actuator is formed with relatively low thermal conductivity.

In certain embodiments, resilience pushing meanss can include the object of resilient deformation（Such as, helical spring, Flat spring or other spring elements）.In addition or instead, resilience pushing meanss can include the article or material of resilient deformation Material（Such as, the bag of class sponge material, gas or fluid filling or other any suitable devices）.Resilience pushing meanss can To be configured to change its shape or size to adapt to one or more cooling articles when cooling thing product temperature change（It is all Such as, it is cold to wrap or loosely freeze refrigerant）Volume or position change.

In embodiment, resilience pushing meanss can be configured to expand to work as when loosely freezing coolant melts The liquid level of the cooling agent melted is caused to increase during coolant melts.Freezing cooling agent can swim in liquid in some systems At upper horizontal plane（The situation of water-ice such as in water, the relatively low-density due to freezing cooling agent relative to liquid phase coolant）.Resilience Property pushing meanss can thus be accordingly used in make it is remaining freezing cooling agent be positioned at cold deposit than the situation without resilience pushing meanss Store up at the higher level face in part.This can have between the fluid in the top area for improving freezing cooling agent and storage tank The advantage of thermal communication.

It is to be understood that when the chilled water of given volume melts, the volume contraction of water.Form is the bag of fluid filling （Such as, the bag of gas filling）Resilience pushing meanss can be set such that it is remaining freezing cooling agent horizontal plane It is maintained at and the higher level in the cold storage part that otherwise assumes in the situation without resilience pushing meanss At face.When the freezing coolant melts in cold storage part, this can help to reduce in the top area of fluid reservoir The amount of any reduction of the cooling of fluid.

It is to be understood that cold storage heat exchange section can be configured to thermally contact with the fluid in top area still not Thermally contacted with the fluid below the top area of fluid reservoir.

Therefore, cold storage heat exchange section can be configured to directly cool down fluid in top area without being cooled in Fluid below top area.Fluid below top area can be cooled down alternatively indirectly by the fluid in top area, It is by by heat from the fluid below top area pass through top area in fluid conduct to cold storage heat exchange elements, Or by the movement of the fluid in top area to top area lower zone, so as to up replace below top area Fluid.

Alternatively, compared with fluid in top area, equipment is to heat from the flow of fluid in fluid reservoir to cold storage Partial resistance to heat is higher for the fluid below top area.

In certain embodiments, this can by it is cold storage part the body regions of fluid reservoir between in fluid Seal is provided between cold storage part and fluid reservoir and realize on the region of the wall of storage tank.The seal can be wrapped Include insulating materials（Such as, the polystyrene material or solid foam of expansion）.Alternatively or additionally, the seal can be wrapped Include the volume with gas or the volume being evacuated.Other structures can be useful in certain embodiments.

Alternatively, fluid storage reservoir includes multiple element of fluids.Fluid in corresponding adjacent cells can be by extremely A few cell-wall spaced-apart, at least one unit wall part be configured to allow fluid in corresponding adjacent cells it Between carry out heat energy transmission.

A parts for one or more top areas that can include fluid reservoir of unit and one of body regions Point.

The one or more of unit can be included across the substantially top region from storage tank to substantially bottommost area The volume of the distance in domain.

Alternatively or additionally, the one or more of unit can include the volume across the width of storage tank.That is, storage tank Lateral dimension.

Unit it is one or more can relative to equipment normal direction upright orientation and one is stacked on another.It is multiple Unit can be configured to extend to the form of the cylinder of body regions from top area.Multiple such cylinders can be set.

Alternatively, fluid reservoir includes the hot fluid with critical-temperature, and critical-temperature is such temperature：Fluid is at this More than temperature show positive thermal coefficient of expansion and show negative thermal coefficient of expansion below the temperature.

That is, when the temperature of fluid rises to the temperature for being substantially equal to critical-temperature from the temperature below critical-temperature, The density increase of fluid, and when the temperature of fluid is increased to more than critical-temperature, the density of fluid reduces.

Alternatively, hot fluid includes water.

Hot fluid substantially can be made up of water.Alternatively fluid can include having additive（Such as, salt, alternatively For sodium chloride）Water.Therefore fluid can be salt solution or including salt solution in certain embodiments.Additive can be solvent （Such as, alcohol）Or including the solvent.Other solvents and other additives are also useful.In certain embodiments, fluid Can be oil plant or oil plant with the mixture of other one or more liquid or solids or including oil plant or oil plant and one or The mixture of other multiple liquid or solids.Other liquid can be useful in certain embodiments.

Cooling element can be provided power by electric power supply unit, and electric power supply unit can include being configured to from the sun The solar generator of electric power can be produced.Alternatively refrigeration unit can be burning fuel, alternatively combustion gas as described above Body.

The equipment can include sensor, and the equipment is operable with when the temperature of sensor is down to below predetermined temperature The disconnected cooling by cooling device to cold storage part.

Sensor can be configured to monitor the temperature of the inside of cold storage part.Sensor can be located at cold storage part Top（Or bottom）In region.

In some alternative embodiments, sensor can be configured to monitor fluid reservoir（Such as, the top of fluid reservoir Region）In fluid temperature.In certain embodiments, sensor can be configured to the fluid in storage tank essentially directly Thermal communication.Alternatively, sensor can be immersed in storage tank at least in part（Such as, the top area of storage tank）In fluid in.

Sensor can be configured to detect the formation of condensable fluid, and the feelings of the fluid of water are alternatively included in storage tank It is the ice in fluid reservoir in shape.The sensor of fluid for detecting solidification can be temperature sensor；The equipment can be by It is arranged to be down to setting when measuring temperature by sensor（Be optionally 1-2 degrees Celsius, still optionally further 4 degrees Celsius with Under, further alternatively below 3 degrees Celsius）The fluid that there is solidification is determined when following.Other numerical value are also useful.

Sensor, which can be placed in sentence away from the cold storage enough distances of heat exchange section, just to be allowed interrupting the behaviour of refrigeration unit The fluid of the sufficiently large volume in the top area of storage tank is cooled to sufficiently low temperature before work.

The method of detection Frozen Body formation in addition to thermal measurement can also be useful.For example, in some embodiments Middle frozen liquid and mechanical device（Such as, rotating vane）Interference can be effective means for detecting frozen liquid.Separately Outside, the fluid in fluid reservoir（Including frozen liquid）Volume change can be frozen liquid presence useful metrics, It can represent to have formd the frozen liquid of enough large volumes for example, the volume increases above ormal weight.

Do not have in the opereating specification of equipment below critical-temperature in the embodiment for the solidification for occurring fluid, TEMP It is sufficiently large substantially to connect that device can be configured to detect when the volume of fluid below the temperature value of setting has increased Temperature sensor is touched, the operation of cooling device can be now interrupted.

It is to be understood that the temperature once detected by sensor has increased to more than setting value, then it can continue refrigeration The operation of unit.For example, the suitable time delay caused by the hysteresis in control system can be introduced into prevent Only cooling device is turned on and off with too high frequency.Alternatively, the temperature that refrigeration unit continues residing for operation can be than refrigeration Temperature your pupil for being less than is to prevent amount that cooling device is turned on and off with too high frequency when unit terminates operation.

In the embodiment of common offer power, refrigeration unit can include motor compressor.However, being made using other The refrigeration unit of refrigeration technique can also be useful.One example of such substitute technology is Stirling engine cooler. Stirling engine cooler can be provided under solar energy direct driving mode and operate.

Cold storage part and fluid reservoir can be configured to construction side by side.

Alternatively, cold storage part and fluid reservoir are substantially perpendicularly coextensive.

Alternatively, heat exchange section is configured to from the loading volume-absorption heat to contain object or article to be cooled Amount, the loading volume is limited by loading container at least in part.

In embodiment, loading volume can include one or more shelves to support article or thing to be cooled Body.Loading volume can be that front end is opened.Alternatively, loading volume can include closure member（Such as, door）For loading The heat insulation of volume.The door can be configured to allow to enter loading volume above the volume.Alternatively or additionally, the door It can allow to enter loading volume from the front portion of loading volume or sidepiece.

Alternatively, loading volume is configured to with the horizontal the angle in the range of from 30 degree or so to 80 degree or so Support article.

Alternatively, loading volume is configured to support article with the angle in the range of from 40 degree or so to 60 degree or so.

It is to be understood that by with from the horizontal by illegally to angle support article, the article（Such as, bottle or Bottle）It can keep flat so that it can not topple over.The angle can be set such that it is sufficiently large to prevent in bottle or bottle Liquid contact closed Sealing（Such as, cap or lid）, thus reduce the danger of fluid leakage.Loading volume can be against loading The base surface support article of volume, the base surface is configured to cool down thus to cool down loading volume by fluid reservoir.

Alternatively or additionally, loading volume can include at least one containing body, such as container（Such as, container for drink, Fruit or any other suitable article）Object can be placed at storage in the containing body for controlled temperature, the appearance Pipe or bag can be included by receiving body or each containing body, and it has the opening limited by the aperture being placed in the wall of fluid reservoir, and Extend inward into cooled region to be submerged in wherein.

The pipe or bag or each pipe or bag can be closed in its end away from opening.

The containing body or each containing body can be formed by flexible material, alternatively by the resilience of such as elastomeric material Flexible material is formed.

The containing body or each containing body can be from it close to opening end it is tapered towards its end away from opening. Alternatively, each containing body can be not tapered, with substantially parallel wall, such as at least a portion along its length （Alternatively substantially along its whole length）The cylindrical tube of diameter with substantial constant.

The equipment can include at least two containing body, and the end away from its respective openings of each containing body is connected.

In use, the heat exchange section of the equipment can include one or more streams that fluid to be cooled flows through from it Body pipeline.The fluid line can be configured to flow through fluid reservoir.

Alternatively, in certain embodiments, pipeline can be configured to flow through cold storage part.

The pipeline can be the pipeline for beverage dispensing device.The pipeline can be configured to beverage thus to be allocated By the pipeline, optionally with the aid of pump and/or under gravity.

In embodiments, loading volume can be configured to include one or more things of such as one or more battery Part.The battery can be configured to by equipment cooling while the battery is just being electrically charged and/or the battery is just discharging simultaneously.This sets It is standby to form a part for communications facility and be configured to one or more articles to communication equipment（Such as, transmitter, connect Receive device, transceiver etc.）Power is provided.

Heat exchange section can be configured to the fluid of the body regions from fluid reservoir via pipeline or pipeline Feeding.Fluid from fluid reservoir can be configured to from fluid reservoir, by object heat exchange section and be back to stream Body storage tank and circulate.

The equipment can include being used for making sky towards on object to be cooled, extremely object to be cooled or around object to be cooled Gas passes through on heat exchange section or by the device of heat exchange section.

In embodiment, it is configured to be placed in conventional refrigerator etc. to equipment.In this embodiment, cooling device can With the existing cooling element including refrigerator.The equipment can be configured to be positioned in refrigerator to cause the top of fluid reservoir Portion region and existing cooling element thermal communication are to cool down fluid therein.

For example, the equipment can have the form for being formed to be assemblied in the structure in conventional freezers.The equipment can be with It is molded or is otherwise formed to be assemblied in conventional refrigerator.

In the one aspect of the present invention sought protection, a kind of object for being used to cool down such as food, beverage or vaccine Equipment be provided, the equipment include it is cold storage part and fluid reservoir, cold storage part and fluid reservoir are configured to and that This is in fluid communication.

Other structures can be useful.

Alternatively, cooling device includes the power cooling element for being configured to cool down the fluid in top area.

In certain embodiments, being configured to cool down the power cooling element of the fluid in top area can be configured to The fluid in top area is cooled down via heat exchange section；Heat exchange section can include storage tank, for example, keep fluids in A part for wall in storage tank.In certain embodiments, power cooling element can be immersed in top area at least in part Fluid in.In certain embodiments, heat exchange section can be provided, it is immersed in the fluid in top area at least in part In, heat exchange section is cooled down by cooling element.

Alternatively, in use, cooling element is immersed in the fluid in top area at least in part.

Alternatively, in use, cooling element is configured to cool down the fluid being immersed at least in part in top area In heat exchange section.

Seek protection it is of the invention other in terms of in, a kind of method cooled down by cooling device is carried For, including：

The fluid in the top area for the fluid reservoir for keeping fluid to be cooled is cooled in by cooling device, the fluid reservoir exists There are body regions below top area；And

Heat is drawn from heat exchange section in the fluid into body regions, and be used as the fluid in cooling top area As a result, cause along the heat flow path from body regions to top area by the Heat transmission of fluid reservoir,

This method includes Heat transmission is occurred on the cross-sectional area of storage tank, and the cross-sectional area of storage tank is from top area It is tapered and reduce according to change from top area to the distance of body regions on at least a portion of the distance of bottom section.

In other words, this method includes cause Heat transmission generation in the distance from body regions to top area at least one With anti-tapered on point（inverse-tapering）On the region that mode increases.

Therefore, the cross-sectional area of storage tank can be at least one of the heat flow path from body regions to top area Increased on point according to distance change.

This method can include passing through by means of being configured to the cooling medium with the fluid thermal communication in top area Fluid in cooling device cooling top area.

This method, which can be included in the cold storage part of cooling device, provides at least one cooling object, and thus this is at least One cooling object with it is cold storage heat exchange section thermal communication, and then with the fluid thermal communication in top area.

Alternatively, the fluid in cooling top area includes hot fluid of the cooling with critical-temperature, and critical-temperature is this The temperature of sample：In the temperature so that upper fluid shows positive thermal coefficient of expansion and shows negative thermal expansion system in the following fluid of the temperature Number.

This method can include the hot fluid in top area is cooled in critical-temperature by means of heat exchange section Temperature or be cooled to subcritical temperature.

Seek protection it is of the invention in terms of in, a kind of cooling device is provided, including：

Cold storage part, the cold storage part is used to store at least one cooling object；

Fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir is used to keep fluid to be cooled, and storage tank has top area and under top area Each of the body regions of side, top area and body regions are configured to include fluid to be cooled；And

Cold storage heat exchange section, cold storage heat exchange section in use is arranged in offer and cold storage part Cooling object and fluid reservoir in top area in fluid thermal communication.

Alternatively, cold storage heat exchange section is configured to provide and the cooling object in cold storage part in use Thermo-contact essentially directly.

Embodiments of the invention allow cooling device to be configured to be driven by the cooling object being arranged in cold storage part, Such as, cold bag or loose refrigeration material（Such as, water-ice or dry ice（Frozen carbon dioxide））.Object driving is cooled down in fluid reservoir Top（Top）The cooling of the fluid in fluid reservoir in region.

Cold storage heat exchange section can include a part for the wall of fluid reservoir.

It is to be understood that the wall of fluid reservoir means to define the border of storage tank and is configured to keep fluids in storage Part in groove.

It is to be understood that critical-temperature means to observe temperature residing during the maximum according to the fluid density of temperature change Degree.Therefore, when the temperature of fluid rises towards critical-temperature fluid density increase, and when temperature be raised to critical-temperature with Then reduced when upper, it means that the density of fluid is in its maximum in critical-temperature.

It is to be understood that bag storage part is configured to the fluid in the top area of cooling fluid storage tank in use.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention only are described by way of example now with reference to accompanying drawing, wherein：

Fig. 1 is the curve map of the density relative temperature of water；

Fig. 2 exists（a）：Along（b）Section A-A side view and（b）：Along（a）Section B-B end-view in show Refrigeration plant according to an embodiment of the invention；

Fig. 3 exists（a）：Perspective view viewed from above；（b）：Perspective view from following；And（c）：Shown in side view The storage tank compartment of Fig. 2 embodiment；

Fig. 4 is that the amplification of a part for loading compartment, fluid reservoir and the cold storage compartment of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is regarded Figure；

Fig. 5 be（a）：Along（b）Section A-A side view and（b）：Along（a）Section B-B end-view in root According to the side view of the refrigeration plant of embodiments of the invention；

Fig. 6 is the side view of a part for refrigeration plant according to an embodiment of the invention；

Fig. 7 shows a series of side views of a part for the refrigeration plant of Fig. 6 embodiment；

Fig. 8 is the side view of a part for refrigeration plant according to another embodiment of the invention.

In description below, as much as possible, identical reference indicates identical part.

Embodiment

From hereinbefore it should be understood that embodiments of the invention depend on some fluids（Such as, water）It is well known anti- One of normal attribute：That is, its density is maximum at critical-temperature.The thermal expansion temperature coefficient of the fluid is in critical-temperature above is just And in critical-temperature the following is negative.The phenomenon shows in Fig. 1, wherein, the density of water is plotted as being become according to temperature Change.The critical-temperature of water can be considered as approximate 4 DEG C.Herein using to being used as the fluid that can be used in certain embodiments The water of example is referred to, it is to be appreciated that, other fluids for having similarity on thermal expansion temperature coefficient also may be used To be useful.Fluid including water and one or more additives can be useful（Such as, water and salt）.Salt can be permitted Perhaps critical-temperature is lowered.Critical-temperature of other additives for reducing or improving water or other fluids can be useful. Other oily fluids such as with critical-temperature can be useful in certain embodiments.

It is that water has at approximate less than 4 DEG C and born that water, which has at critical-temperature according to the fact the maximal density of temperature change, Thermal expansion temperature coefficient and approximate more than 4 DEG C have positive thermal expansion temperature coefficient the fact result.Hereinafter, art Temperature when language " critical-temperature " is by for representing that the density of fluid is in its maximum, is approximately 4 DEG C in the situation of water, and And reduce in the temperature above and below density.In certain embodiments, fluid can have multiple critical-temperatures to cause " most The expression of big density " can represent the specific local maxima density of fluid.

In equipment disclosed in the PCT application WO2011/007162 of CO-PENDING, the headroom comprising frozen liquid It is placed in above the load space being immersed in liquid fluid.Embodiments of the invention are employed and public affairs in WO2011/007162 The similar operating principle of the equipment opened.However, that the equipment disclosed in WO2011/007162 can run into the disadvantage is that, top The supercooling of liquid in portion space can result in frozen liq contact loading container and so that be stored in loading container Article supercooling.In the situation using power cooling device, reached in WO2011/007162 by the volume when frozen liq Overcome the problem to the power that cooling device is interrupted when a certain size.

The applicant has devised a kind of refrigeration that improved performance is provided in terms of the supercooling of loading container is prevented Device.

Referring now first to Fig. 2, implement the present invention the first form refrigeration plant in Fig. 2 (a) and Fig. 2 (b) generally Shown with 100.Fig. 2 (a) is the side view of equipment 100, and Fig. 2 (b) is front view.

The shell 110 that equipment 100 includes being formed by heat insulator is transferred in equipment 100 or slave unit to reduce 100 heats passed out.For example, shell 110 can be formed by the roational molding of plastic material.Shell 110 includes three Adjacent space：Loading compartment 120, fluid reservoir 130 and cold storage compartment 140.The cold construction of storage compartment 140 is provided with ice Bag or loose ice are for the fluid in cooling fluid storage tank 130（Such as, water）.

Loading compartment 120, which is defined, is substantially shaped as cubical loading volume.In the embodiment shown, loading volume With the closure member that form is the lid 120L being arranged in shell 110.In certain embodiments, other closure members（Such as, link Door etc.）Can be useful.

The equipment is configured to place on the floor of a room or is placed on the supporting member of such as desk or stroller.Carry Thing compartment（And lid 120L）Be oriented to from the horizontal by approximate 30 degree angle so as to contribute to user contact content. It is to be understood that by the way that loading compartment and horizontal plane are oriented with non-zero angle, additional advantage can be enjoyed：Article（Such as, The vaccine vial 120V being stored therein）Can be with substantially planar against compartment 120 or the base portion 120B of shelf, so as to reduce Bottle 120V during being handled by user due to the risk damaged caused by toppling over, it is but fully upright to prevent bottle The closed Sealing of the upper plane contact bottle of liquid in 120V（Such as, nut or other seals）.It is thereby possible to reduce The risk that liquid is leaked from bottle 120V.It is to be understood that other angles in addition to 30 degree or so can be useful, this Depending on the plane of the liquid in bottle 120V, such as 40 degree, 45 degree, 50 degree, 60 degree, 70 degree or other any suitable angles Degree.

Insulating materials is carried on lid 120L so that when the cap is shut, be reduced by the heat transfer of the lid.It is real substituting Apply in example（It is not shown）, loading compartment 120 can be open surface, thus allow to have easy access to the object that is stored therein or Article.For example, loading compartment can include the shelving unit for retail shop or shop.

In another embodiment, can be in normal direction upright orientation（That is, on substantially vertical direction）Slave unit it is upper In just or entering directly into loading compartment from side in a substantially horizontal direction.Other settings can also be useful.

In the embodiment shown, loading volume have substantially 20 cm width W, substantially 15 cm length L and Substantially 15 cm depth D.In certain embodiments, other sizes can be useful.

Loading compartment 120 is configured to be placed in above fluid reservoir 130, and fluid reservoir 130 is configured to and loading compartment 120 base portion 120B is directly thermally contacted.Fluid reservoir 130 is illustrated separately in figure 3.Fig. 3 (a) is that 3D viewed from above shows Figure, Fig. 3 (b) is the 3D diagrams observed from below, and Fig. 3 (c) is analogous to the side view of Fig. 2 (a) orientation.Fluid reservoir 130 have the top area 130H being located in Fig. 2 (a) normal direction upright orientation above body regions 130B.Storage tank 130 has Upper wall 130WU, lower wall 130WL, two relative side wall 130WS, and enclose the end wall of body regions 130B lower end 130WE.A part of upper wall 130WU in the body regions 130B of storage tank 130 is configured to the base portion with loading compartment 120 120B is abutted.

According to Fig. 2 (a) He Fig. 3 (c) orientation, as storage tank 130 is substantially shaped as seen in side view or sectional view The sigmoid curve of distortion.The distance between upper wall and lower wall 130WU, 130WL, and therefore such as the storage tank observed in cross-section Cross-sectional area on its theoretical longitudinal axis A is in tapered mode as described in further detail below from top area 130H courts Reduce to body regions 130B.It can be seen that along the length of storage tank 130 from top area 130H to body zone from Fig. 2 (a) Domain 130B is moved along theoretical longitudinal axis A, and longitudinal axis A is bent downwardly and cross-sectional area is tapered up to a bending point, Axis A is more sharply bent to back bending towards horizontal direction initially towards body regions 130B at the bending point.In body regions In 130B, the longitudinal axis A of storage tank 130 be substantially it is straight, and storage tank cross-sectional area along body regions 130B's Length is tapered again.In body regions it is tapered before, the cross-sectional area on axis A can be in the length of longitudinal axis Somewhat increase from bending point towards body regions in a part.This feature allows the increasing of the fluid volume in body regions 130H Plus, so that in the case of thermal force increases（For example, when fresh article is placed in loading compartment 120）Improve loading compartment The stability of 120 temperature.

The reclinate feature of longitudinal axis this have the advantage that, relatively unexpected with existing on required flow direction The situation of change is compared, and water can flow in the case of less limitation.Relatively sharp edge can cause turbulent flow, example Such as, resistance of the increase to the raising and lowering of the fluid in storage tank.It is to be understood that in certain embodiments, storage tank is more vertical （That is, the width of the S-shaped shape of distortion is smaller）, by body regions（Such as, the wall of loading compartment）It is caused to cool down the cold of object But the performance of aspect storage tank is better.If it is to be understood that from the lower area conveying fluid of body regions to top area institute The amount of the energy needed reduces（For example, the wall by setting relative smooth for storage tank）, then consumed during operation by system The ratio of energy can be reduced.Due to the relatively slow speed of the movement of the fluid in storage tank, phase in certain embodiments Amount to reduction can be significant.Therefore, in certain embodiments, the energy consumed by turbulent flow can be it is significant enough with Just the amount that can not ignore heat transfer effect reduction.

The tapered feature of cross-sectional area this have the advantage that, the supercooling of the fluid in body regions 130B and enters And the overcooled risk of loading compartment 120 can be lowered.Because, when cross-sectional area reduces, when given Between the amount of heat that can be aspirated from body regions towards top area in section reduce, so as to reduce the speed of cooling.If Fluid in top area 130H is cooled down by relative active, then can freeze or the height of substantially frozen liquid is cooled down Fluid all can from top area 130H towards body regions 130B spread.This can cause body regions 130B and enter And the fluid in loading compartment 120 is cooled to below critical-temperature.This may cause the material cooled down by heat exchange section Damage, such as, medical vaccine.

It is configured such that the cross-sectional area of storage tank according to the distance from top area to heat exchange section by providing Change and the fluid reservoir that reduces, the distance of the anterior diffusion of the fluid of height cooling can be reduced.It is to be understood that in mistake Cooling causes in some embodiments that fluid is freezed, and the anterior diffusion of frozen liquid, which can be suppressed, makes it away from heat exchange section Sufficiently large distance is to cause the supercooling that substantially prevent heat exchange section.

In an illustrated embodiment, in the body regions 130B of storage tank 130, axis and horizontal direction are to be slightly less than 30 The angle of degree and orient so that upper wall 130WU and horizontal direction are with substantially 30 degree of angle positioning.Axis A angle compares 30 The amount of the half of the taper angle of upper wall 130WU and lower wall 130WL in the small substantially body regions 130B of degree so that storage tank 130 upper wall 130WU is arranged essentially parallel to the base portion 120B of loading compartment 120 and thermally contacted with it.As described above, loading every The angles of the base portion 120B of room 120 in the embodiment of fig. 2 from the horizontal by substantially 30 degree, but in certain embodiments Other angles including the angle from the horizontal by substantially zero degree can be useful.

For the purposes of the present invention, as the longitudinal axis A of storage tank observed in a cross section view can be defined as by The lower wall 130WL of storage tank 130 is connected to the midpoint of upper wall 130WU line of shortest length along upper wall or lower wall 130UL, 130WL from top Portion region 130H is moved to body regions 130B track.Other limit can be useful in certain embodiments.

Fluid reservoir 130 is formed with the wall 130WU of sufficiently high thermal conductivity to allow heat in use From the fully conduction of loading compartment 120 to the fluid in fluid reservoir 130.In figs. 2 and 3 in shown embodiment, storage tank 130 Wall formed to provide by the thermal conductivity needed for body regions 130B upper wall 130WU as sufficiently thin plastic material.Will Understand, one or more walls of storage tank 130 are in the area of the upper wall 130WU away from body regions 130B in certain embodiments There is relatively low thermal conductivity in domain.In the present example, one layer of insulating materials be arranged on substantially not with loading compartment 120 On the outer surface of the fluid reservoir 130 directly contacted.

The fluid reservoir 130 of the end that defines top area 130H relative with the end that body regions 130B is located at End be configured to the upper end of the substantially upright wall 140W with cold storage compartment 140.In the embodiment shown, store up Fluid in the top area 130H of groove 130 is directly contacted with wall 140W, but storage tank 130 can be with some alternative embodiments It is provided with the single wall for closing the free end on top.The wall 140W of cold storage compartment 140 has relatively high thermal conductivity simultaneously And by cooling medium（Such as, the ice bag in cold storage compartment 140 can be arranged on）Cooling.

Cold deposit is designed according to interval required between the successive renewal for the cooling medium being arranged in cold storage compartment 140 Store up the size of compartment 140.Therefore, in the case of needing longer interval between successive update, cold storage compartment 140 can have There is bigger volume, and therefore there is the bigger capacity for cooling medium.In the embodiment shown, cold storage compartment 140 have 60cm or so width Wc, 60cm or so depth Dc and 40cm or so length Lc.In certain embodiments its His size can be useful.Enter cold storage compartment 140 via removable lid 140L to cool down for insertion into withdrawal Medium 140.

The operation of Fig. 2 refrigeration plant will now be described.It can be assumed that, all water in fluid reservoir 130 It is initially residing under environment temperature or near ambient temperature, may be in some environment Celsius from 15 degrees Celsius to 45 In degree or higher scope.By placing such as cold bag 140P in cold storage compartment 140（Such as, ice bag）Cooling medium and Starting device 1, ideally causes closest to the bag 140P of fluid reservoir 130 and as shown in Figure 4 near fluid reservoir 130 Wall 140W upstanding portion thermo-contact.In the present example, cold bag 140P is that form is ice bag, and its form is by plastics material Expect the water tight container that is made and comprising the water wherein with dyestuff, the dyestuff will not substantially change water critical-temperature or Fusing point.

The cold bag 140P of freezing in cold storage compartment 140 presence causes the wall 140W of cold storage compartment 140 to cool down, This so cause fluid reservoir 130 by being conducted through wall 140W（Fig. 3）Top area 130H in water cooling.

When the water cooling in top area 130H, the increase of its density.As Fig. 4 arrow S schematically shown in, cooling Bottom of the water therefore towards the body regions 130B of fluid reservoir 130 sinks, so that the water relatively warmed up is substituted for, as by arrow R institutes Show that relatively warm water rises towards top area 130H.Water towards top area 130H risings is in the upper area of storage tank 130 Cooled, the conduction of the heat with leaving top area 130H by the wall 140W by cold storage compartment 140 herein is cooled down Water is mixed.Alternatively include top area 130H, alternatively substantially by the upper zone of the top area 130H storage tanks 130 limited Domain can provide fluid mixing region, wherein, the water cooled down by the heat transfer by wall 140W from body regions 130B with rising Relatively warm water mixing.

It is to be understood that the relatively warm water R risen can be for instance in approximate 10 DEG C of temperature.From relatively warm water to colder The heat transfer of water therefore occur in the upper area of storage tank 130 so that colder water from top area 130H is with coming Critical-temperature rise and reduction temperature are respectively facing from body regions 130B relatively warm water.Upper area 130H therefore can be by It is regarded as providing the heat transfer area of storage tank 130, wherein, hot biography can occur between top and the fluid of body regions Pass.It is to be understood that if cold bag 140P is cold enough, due to the freezing of the water in top area 130H, ice can be formed on top In the 130H of portion region.If top area 130H becomes to be substantially filled with ice, Mixed Zone can be moved to freezing region The region of the aqueous water of lower section.

Because the density of water is maximum at critical-temperature, therefore water at such a temperature tends to concentrate on fluid reservoir 130 Body regions 130B bottom, so as to substituted for the water of the lower temperature towards top area 130H as described above.This leads It is usually positive thermograde to cause to produce in fluid reservoir 130, wherein, the water level in critical-temperature is in body regions 130B In, and smaller, the more frivolous water level of density below critical-temperature is in top area 130H.It will be appreciated that, Change over time, the most or all of water included in the body regions 130B of fluid reservoir 130 is cooled to 4 DEG C or so Temperature.

After being mixed in top area 130H, the water in cooled fluid reservoir 130 concentrates on fluid reservoir 130 In body regions 130B, as described above, the body regions are configured to and the thermal communication of loading compartment 120.From loading compartment 120 Heat therefore by body regions 130B water absorb.Therefore, loading compartment 120 and the object that is therefore stored therein or The temperature of article starts reduction.

In order to reaffirm, in some structures, the water in the top area 130H of fluid reservoir 130 is generally by passing through cold storage The wall 140W of compartment 140 heat transfer and be cooled to below critical-temperature or critical-temperature.Place in top area 130H Mix in the heavy under water of critical-temperature and with the water more than critical-temperature.When cooling down continuation, the region occurred in mixing （The region can include or substantially be defined in top area 130H in some structures）In water mean temperature approach Critical-temperature, and therefore being sink under water in body regions in the region that mixing occurs, up substituted in stagnation temperature Water more than degree.By way of non-limiting example, the behaviour of equipment shown in Fig. 4 is shown at 130M in Fig. 4 The region that some moment mixing during work may occur.

Change over time, by the water being cooled near critical-temperature in the upper area of storage tank 130 with The dynamic heat transfer between the water at temperature more than critical-temperature in body regions 130B, the process can be close to surely Determine the situation of state.In certain embodiments, in the stable state, in top area, Mixed Zone and body regions Water in 130H, 130M, 130B can become essentially static, and Heat transmission is mainly carried out via conduction.

By absorbing heat from loading compartment 120 by the water in storage tank 130, loading compartment 120 can be maintained close to 4 DEG C preferred temperature under, this is for storing many products（Including vaccine, food and beverage）It is preferable.

It is to be understood that in certain embodiments can be by adjusting the stream from body regions 130B to top area 130H The cross-sectional area of the flow path of body and the temperature for adjusting the fluid in body regions 130B under steady-state conditions.Manage Solution, in certain embodiments, the flowing of fluid and/or heat energy can be suppressed by reducing the cross-sectional area so that this The temperature rise of liquid in body region 130B.In certain embodiments, in order to realize this point, valve 130V can be provided, should Valve is operable to limit flowing when needed.Show form as the suitable of butterfly throttle valve using dotted outline in Fig. 4 Valve 130V example.Other valvings can be useful in certain embodiments.The valve is filled in certain embodiments Putting can be configured to be formed as with relatively low thermal conductivity（Less than the thermal conductivity of fluid）.Relative in the absence of valving When by the heat transfer of storage tank 130, the thermal conductivity can be high enough to reduce passes through storage across valving in use The heat transfer of groove.

Once the frozen liquid in cold storage compartment 140 exhausts, occur if replaced before essentially static conduction, Then the replacement process may start to slow down, but by by the water in the body regions 130B of fluid reservoir 130 produce from load Thing compartment 120 continues to absorb heat and maintain.At least due to the high specific heat capacity of water and the top area 130H in fluid reservoir The volume of the water of the interior temperature below critical-temperature, the temperature of the fluid in the body regions 130B of fluid reservoir 130 Degree can be kept for quite a long time near 4 DEG C or 4 DEG C.That is, sinking under water and replacing place in critical-temperature Cause cold bag 140P in cold memory 140 no longer by headroom in the natural tendency of the water of critical-temperature above and below After water in 130H is maintained below critical-temperature or critical-temperature, the body regions 130B of fluid reservoir 130 keeps water A period of time near critical-temperature or critical-temperature, enabling loading compartment 120 is maintained into acceptable temperature range The interior period up to extension.Some embodiments of the present invention can make body zone in the case of the new cold bag 140P for loading freezing Fluid in the 130B of domain maintains the time that target temperature is up to several weeks.

In certain embodiments, cold storage compartment 140 can be provided with power cooling device for cooling compartment 140 It is internal.Fig. 5 shows the embodiments of the invention with power cooling device.It is identical with the feature in Fig. 2 to Fig. 4 embodiment Fig. 5 feature by identical reference increase by 100 and show.

In the 5 embodiment of figure 5, refrigeration plant 200 is provided, and the refrigeration plant has loading container or compartment 220, stream Body storage tank 230 and cold storage compartment 240.Refrigeration plant 100 has power cooling element 240CE, the power cooling element quilt It is arranged to cool down the cold bag 240P being placed in cold storage compartment 240.Cold bag 240P so with setting above for Fig. 2 to Fig. 4 Fluid in the top area 230H of the similar fashion cooling fluid storage tank 230 of standby 100 description.

It is to be understood that cooling element 240CE can be configured to basic when that can obtain power in certain embodiments Upper operates continuously, so that the cold bag 240P being arranged in cold memory 140 be maintained at low temperature.

In the case of cooling element 240CE power source is interrupted or disconnected（Due to for example, power failure）If, Above for the cooling institute of the water in the top area of fluid reservoir 230, Mixed Zone and body regions 230H, 230M, 230B The replacement process of description is carried out, then it can continue, or can keep static state substantially, while frozen liquid It is maintained in the ice in the cold bag 240P in cold storage compartment 240 or being maintained in the top area 230H of storage tank 230.

Once frozen liquid exhausts, if the replacement process is carried out, it can start slack-off, but can be by By in the body regions 230B of fluid reservoir 230 water produce from loading compartment 220 continue absorb heat and maintain.As above institute State, due to the high specific heat capacity of water and in fluid reservoir, a large amount of water are in the temperature below critical-temperature, so fluid reservoir Temperature in 230 body regions 230B may remain in 4 DEG C or 4 DEG C nearby up to for quite a long time.

Establishing essentially static balance, cold bag 240P is being cooled down simultaneously（For example, cold bag is still included simultaneously Freeze cooling agent）Situation in, when frozen liquid exhausts, the static balancing can be interrupted and can re-establish replacement Process.

In the 5 embodiment of figure 5, cold storage compartment 240 is provided with the gold that form is the form with substantially l-shaped component Belong to the conductor plate 240CP of material sheet.Other shapes can be useful in certain embodiments.Conductor plate 240CP bottom It is partially disposed in wall 240W and cold bag 240P（When it is present）Between cold storage compartment bottom plate on.Plate 240CP upstanding portion It is oriented to the vertical wall adjoining with cold storage part 240.Conductor plate 240CP is cold for heat to be conducted through from storage tank 230 The wall 240W of storage compartment to cold bag 240P.

Cold storage compartment 240 is additionally provided with substantially upright plate bias voltage 240B, and the plate is attached to resilience biased element The wall of 240BE, resilience biased element 240BE against the cold storage compartment 240 relative with conductor plate 240CP upstanding portion 240W part installation.Plate bias voltage 240B is configured to apply force to cold bag 240P to promote cold bag 240P against conductor plate 240CP vertical side.The plate bias voltage 240B of resilience bias presence allows equipment to maintain cold bag 240P and conductor plate 240CP's The thermo-contact of upstanding portion, even if for example because the thawing for including fluid in bag 240P makes bag 240P volume change. In some embodiments, cold storage compartment 240 can accommodate at least two of the upstanding portion relative to conductor plate 240CP with sufficiently large The cold bag 240P of row depth stacking.In Fig. 5 diagram, the sufficiently large cold bag to accommodate three row depths of cold storage compartment 240 240P stacking, but as indicated, bag 240P is shown as only stacking two row depths.Plate bias voltage 240B is configured in foot Moved on enough big position ranges so that cold bag 240P can be applied pressure to, no matter cold bag 240P is arranged to two row Depth（As shown）Or three row depths.Therefore, if available cold bag 240P lazy weight is to provide the stacking of three row depths, The stacking of two row depths can be then used, and with efficient heat transfer between cold bag 240P and conductor plate 240CP.

It is to be understood that in certain embodiments, can provide power cooling element, the power cooling element is configured to The substantially immediately fluid in the top area of cooling storage tank rather than the cooling via cold bag.In certain embodiments, should Cooling element can be configured to thermally contact with the wall 240W of cold storage part 240.In certain embodiments, the cooling element can To be configured to essentially directly thermally contact with the fluid in storage tank 230, optionally at least partially it is immersed in storage tank 230.

Fig. 6 is the side view of the storage tank 330 of use in a device according to another embodiment of the invention.With Fig. 5 reality The feature identical reference for applying feature identical Fig. 6 of example embodiment plus 100 and represented.Storage tank 330 has with Fig. 5's The similar shape of the storage tank 230 of embodiment, but top area vertically extends to provide top region above bent portion The volume of the increase in domain.

Storage tank be shown as with via cold storage part wall 340W and with the cold bag in the cold storage part of the equipment The top area 330H of 340P thermal communications.A part of heat of body regions 330B low portion similarly with loading compartment 320 Connection.

Fig. 7 shows fluid in the top area 330H of storage tank 330 from environment temperature cooling period in side view The order of the image of storage tank 330.In the image of the leftmost side, the region 330SF of the fluid of solidification has been formed into and cold storage Partial wall 340W contacts.Region 330SF volume is less than the 25% of top area 330H volume at the shown moment.At any time Between change, the increase of the volume of the fluid of solidification is essentially all of in top area 330H until as shown in the image of the rightmost side Fluid has been solidified, and the region 330SF of the fluid solidified is had begun to by Mixed Zone 330M towards body regions 330B low portion diffusion.As described in detail above, due to the tapered shape of storage tank 330, pass through the solidifying of body regions Solid the region 330SF diffusion of fluid limited at least in part, so as to reduce body regions 330B lower area Supercooling.The region 330SF of the fluid of solidification forming process can be described as " filling " process of storage tank 330, because storage Groove 330 becomes " to fill " fluid of solidification, and so if top area 330H continuation cooling is terminated（For example, when cold When cold bag in memory exhausts）Storage tank can continue to work up to certain period of time.The fluid 330SF of solidification then can be with Start to melt so that the filling process reversion of storage tank 330, this can be described as " discharge " of storage tank 330.It is to be understood that working as The continuation cooling of a part for loading compartment 320 can occur when discharge process is carried out, until storage tank 330 is substantially completely arranged Go out.

Fig. 8 is the side view of the storage tank 430 of equipment according to another embodiment of the invention.With Fig. 6 embodiment The feature identical reference marker of feature identical Fig. 8 embodiment adds 100 and shown.

Fig. 8 storage tank 430 is with top area of the end in storage tank via wall 440W and cold bag 440P thermal communications 430H.The body regions 430B of storage tank 430 low portion is thermally contacted with a part for loading compartment 420.Storage tank 430 can be by It is regarded as including many tapered sections（It is six in the present example）, 430-1 to 430-6 is marked as, across from wall 440W To the length of the storage tank of loading compartment 420.The purpose of tapered section be with manner described above reduce from loading compartment 420 to The top area 430H of storage tank 430 heat transfer rate, thus prevents the supercooling of the fluid in storage tank 430.It is to be understood that So that the cross-sectional area of storage tank alternately multiple tapered sections of tapered order connection in a decreasing manner before increase Presence（Whether suddenly, as shown in the embodiment in fig. 8, or with tapered manner）Have the advantage that, can be with Further limitation passes through the Heat transmission of storage tank 430, so as to reduce the overcooled danger of loading compartment 420.

Figure 8 illustrates the region 430S of the fluid of solidification, it has been substantially filled with the top area 430H of storage tank.It is solidifying Solid the region 430S anterior 430SF of solidification be shown as just diffusing in the second tapered section 430-2 of storage tank 430.Energy It is enough it is seen that, must be in top area 430HE porch from the body regions 430B heat energy for diffusing to top area 430H Through the region of the cross-sectional area with reduction, so that the given temperature reduced between wall 440W and loading compartment 420 is poor Heat transfer speed.It is to be understood that six tapered section 430-1 to 430-6 presence can cause the diffusion speed of heat energy Rate is substantially reduced.

It is to be understood that for the given required cooling capacity of refrigeration plant, some embodiments of the present invention can permit Storage tank with the fluid volume smaller than some known refrigeration plants is set perhaps.It is to be understood that with less fluid The storage tank of volume can be favourable, because it can reduce weight when comprising enough fluids for normal operating.This It can cause during manufacture（For example, at factory）Storage tank is filled（To the degree needed for normal operating）, without User fills at the scene.This can eliminate incorrect filling is carried out to storage tank as unfamiliar user caused by equipment extremely A few fault mode.

In addition, the fluid volume reduced can be provided the advantage of, due to the thermal mass of the reduction of equipment, refrigeration plant Storage tank can be cooled to operation temperature more quickly.Because some fluids（Such as, water）With relatively high specific heat capacity, So the volume of the water of reduction can cause being substantially reduced for total thermal mass of equipment.

Previous embodiments show the favored form of embodiments of the invention, but these embodiments only pass through the side of example Formula is provided and is not intended to limited.In this respect, be it is contemplated that within the scope of the appended claims can be right The present invention makes various modifications and/or improvement.

In the whole described and claimed of this specification, the deformation of word " comprising " and "comprising" and the word, Such as " comprising "（" comprising " and " comprises "）Mean " to include but is not limited to ", and be not intended to（Also not） Exclude other components, additive, part, integer or step.

In the whole described and claimed of this specification, singulative includes plural form, unless context is in addition It is required that.Especially, in the case of using indefinite article, this explanation will be understood to consider plural form and odd number shape Formula, unless the context requires otherwise.

Feature, integer, characteristic, part, the chemical composition described with reference to certain aspects of the present disclosure, embodiment or example Or group will be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example for being described herein, unless they can not It is compatible.

Claims (24)

1. a kind of cooling device, including：

Fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir is used to keep fluid to be cooled, and the storage tank has top area and described Each of body regions below top area, the top area and the body regions are configured to treat cold comprising described But fluid；And

Heat exchange section, the heat exchange section in use is configured to set with the fluid thermal communication in the body regions Put, thus allow the heat transfer between the fluid in the heat exchange section and the body regions,

The equipment in use is configured to allow for the fluid in the cooling device cooling top area,

Wherein, the fluid reservoir is configured such that the cross-sectional area of the storage tank from the top area to described In at least a portion of the distance of body region according to change from the top area to the distance of the body regions it is tapered and Reduce.

2. cooling device according to claim 1, wherein, the fluid reservoir is configured such that the transversal of the storage tank Face area is tapered in a substantial continuous manner and reduces.

3. cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, the fluid reservoir is configured such that the storage tank Cross-sectional area is tapered in multiple substantially discrete steps at least in part and reduces.

4. the cooling device according to any one of preceding claims, wherein, the cross-sectional area of the storage tank is described It is tapered and reduce, the storage according to change from the top area to the distance of the body regions in some of storage tank The cross-sectional area of groove increases to cause the cross-sectional area in increase again and then with gradually between corresponding part The mode of contracting is alternately reduced before reducing in tapered mode.

5. the cooling device according to any one of preceding claims, wherein, the fluid reservoir is configured such that institute State storage tank cross-sectional area geometric center the memory from the top area towards the body regions length It is bent downwardly at least a portion of degree relative to the orientation in.

6. cooling device according to claim 5, wherein, the cross-sectional area of the storage tank is in reclinate institute Basis in described at least a portion of storage tank is stated from the top area to the change of the distance of the body regions to reduce.

7. the cooling device according to any one of preceding claims, wherein, the equipment is configured to allow for cooling dress Put and the fluid in the top area is cooled down by the conduction by heat exchange section.

8. cooling device according to claim 7, including cold storage part, the in use cold storage are partly set Into causing by cooling down the fluid in the top area by the conduction of the heat exchange section.

9. cooling device according to claim 8, wherein, the cold storage part point include being configured to opening and For the compartment for the enclosure portion for closing the opening, the cold storage part, which is configured to accommodate, to be used to cool down the heat exchange Partial cooling agent.

10. cooling device according to claim 9, wherein, the cold storage part is configured to accommodate with cold bag or base The cooling agent that the form of loose refrigeration material is provided in sheet.

11. the cooling device according to any one of claim 8 to 10, wherein, the equipment includes power cooling element For cooling down the cooling agent in the cold storage part.

12. the cooling device according to any one of preceding claims, wherein, the fluid reservoir, which is included, has stagnation temperature The hot fluid of degree, the critical-temperature is such temperature：Show positive thermal coefficient of expansion in temperature fluid described above, And show negative thermal coefficient of expansion in temperature fluid as described below.

13. cooling device according to claim 12, wherein, the hot fluid includes water.

14. the cooling device according to any one of preceding claims, wherein, the heat exchange section be configured to from Heat is absorbed in accommodating in the loading volume of object to be cooled or article, the loading volume is limited by loading container at least in part It is fixed.

15. cooling device according to claim 13, wherein, the loading volume is configured to with the horizontal from 30 Degree left and right to the angle in the range of 80 degree or so supports article.

16. the cooling device according to any one of preceding claims, wherein, the cooling device is cold including being configured to The power cooling element of the fluid in the top area.

17. cooling device according to claim 16, wherein, the cooling element in use is immersed at least in part In fluid in the top area.

18. cooling device according to claim 16, wherein, the cooling element in use is configured to cooling at least Partly it is immersed in the heat exchange section in the fluid in the top area.

19. a kind of method cooled down by cooling device, including：

The fluid in the top area for the fluid reservoir for keeping fluid to be cooled, the fluid reservoir tool are cooled down by cooling device There are the body regions below the top area；And

Heat is drawn from heat exchange section in the fluid into the body regions, and as in the cooling top area Fluid result, cause along from the body regions to the heat flow path of the top area and pass through the fluid reservoir The Heat transmission of groove,

Methods described is included so that carrying out Heat transmission on the cross-sectional area of the storage tank, and the cross-sectional area of the storage tank exists From the top area to basis at least a portion of the distance of the body regions from the top area to the body The change of the distance in region is tapered and reduces.

20. method according to claim 19, including by means of being configured to connect with the fluid thermal in the top area Logical cooling medium and the fluid in the top area is cooled down by cooling device.

21. at least one is set in method according to claim 20, the cold storage part for being included in the cooling device Object is cooled down, thus at least one described cooling object and cold storage heat exchange section thermal communication, the cold storage heat exchange department Point so with the fluid thermal communication in the top area.

22. the method according to any one of claim 19 to 21, thus, the fluid cooled down in the top area include Hot fluid of the cooling with critical-temperature, the critical-temperature is such temperature：Show in temperature fluid described above Positive thermal coefficient of expansion, and show negative thermal coefficient of expansion in temperature fluid as described below.

23. method according to claim 22, including by means of the heat exchange section by the heat in the top area Fluid is cooled to the temperature in the critical-temperature or the temperature being cooled to below the critical-temperature.

24. a kind of equipment or method, equipment or method substantially as described in above in connection with accompanying drawing.